Analyze the causes and evidence of climate change, explain major impacts on Earth systems and communities, and evaluate strategies for mitigation and adaptation.
Read each problem carefully. Use evidence, scientific vocabulary, and complete sentences. Show calculations when needed.
Causes, evidence, impacts, and solutions
Environmental Science - Grade 9-12
- 1
Explain the difference between weather and climate. Include one example of each in your answer.
- 2
Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are greenhouse gases. Describe how greenhouse gases affect Earth's energy balance.
- 3
A graph shows atmospheric carbon dioxide rising from about 315 ppm in 1958 to about 420 ppm in 2023. Calculate the approximate increase in carbon dioxide concentration over this period.
- 4
Name two major human activities that increase atmospheric carbon dioxide and explain how each activity releases carbon dioxide.
- 5
Methane is less abundant than carbon dioxide but is a powerful greenhouse gas. Identify two human-related sources of methane emissions.
- 6
Scientists use ice cores as evidence of past climate. Explain what information ice cores can provide and why they are useful.
- 7
Describe two types of evidence, other than ice cores, that show Earth's climate is warming.
- 8
A coastal city has recorded sea level rise of 3.4 millimeters per year. At that constant rate, about how many centimeters would sea level rise in 50 years?
- 9
Explain two reasons why global sea level rises as the climate warms.
- 10
A student says, "If it still snows in winter, climate change cannot be happening." Write a scientific response to correct this misconception.
- 11
Describe how climate change can affect the water cycle. Include at least two specific effects.
- 12
Explain how climate change can affect human health. Provide two examples.
- 13
Compare mitigation and adaptation as climate change responses. Give one example of each.
- 14
A community is choosing between two climate actions: replacing diesel buses with electric buses or raising roads that flood during high tides. Identify which action is mitigation and which is adaptation, and explain your reasoning.
- 15
Evaluate this claim: "Planting trees is the only solution needed for climate change." Write a short response that uses scientific reasoning.